AHL praises Griffins for charitable efforts, ticket sales

The Grand Rapids Griffins' organization garnered two inaugural awards from the AHL for both their charitable efforts and ability to sell tickets:

June 9, Griffinshockey.com: The Grand Rapids Griffins' community service and ticket sales efforts have been honored by the American Hockey League through its inaugural Team Business Service awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in a variety of categories. AHL President and CEO David Andrews presented the awards on Wednesday evening at a gala reception during the league's annual meeting of the Board of Governors at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
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During the 2008-09 season, the Griffins ranked first among the AHL's 29 teams in funds donated and raised for charity, generating a total of $323,416 for various schools, organizations and nonprofits throughout West Michigan. In addition to helping fund and direct the Griffins Youth Foundation, the organization manages a number of successful and impactful community relations events and programs, including the Great Skate Winterfest, Growing With the Griffins, Put A Lid On It, Charitable Goals, Griff's Reading Goals and Pucks For Plates.

In terms of ticket sales, the Griffins welcomed 297,905 fans (7,448 avg.) to Van Andel Arena last season, their highest attendance since drawing 328,919 during the 2000-01 campaign. Grand Rapids enjoyed a third straight season of increased attendance for the first time in franchise history and finished with its largest percentage increase ever from one season to the next (8.0%, or exactly 22,000 more fans than 2007-08). The Griffins finished third in the AHL in attendance, their highest ranking in eight seasons of league membership.